Refrigerating apparatus for railway cars



Feb. 13, 1951 c. F. HENNEY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DeC. 16, 1947 Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES MaurA Fries REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY CARS Charles F. Henney, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware 8 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly air conditioning systems.

In railway car air conditioning systems, it is customary to place the heat dissipating units (condenser, compressor and motor drives therefor) and the power unit (generator and its driving means, such as an internal combustion en- Sine) under the iioor space of the car. There they are subjected to a very dusty atmosphere, created as the train travels at high speed over the roadbed. These units require air ilow over them to cool them, and the internal combustion engine requires air for combustion purposes. The use of the air from the dusty atmosphere under the car tends to clog these units and is hignly injurious to the internal combustion engine. According to this invention, clean, vitiated air from the conditioned space of the car, which previously has been expelled and wasted to make way for fresh conditioned air, is used in one or more of the said units in lieu of the air from the dusty atmosphere. In this way injury to the internal combustion engine is avoided and clogging is reduced or avoided, depending on the quantity of clean, vitiated air available for this purpose.

An object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning system, particularly for railway cars, or the like, in which one or more heat dissipating units, and/or power unit, derives some or all of its air supply from the air conditioned space.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had'to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

F18. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical cross-sectional view of a car embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view somewhat similar to the lower portion of Fig. l, showing another modication;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a modiiled power unit; and

Fig. -i is an enlarged cross-section of the conduit shown in Fig. 3.

An air conditioning system. embodying this invention, may include a cooling unit or evaporator I9 for cooling air by the evaporation of a. refrigerant within the evaporator. This unit may be provided with air circulating means, in the form of a fan II and motor I2, which are adapted to draw fresh air from the exterior of the space I3, which air may be cleaned as it passes through a lter I4 and, if desired, may be mixed with return air I5. Thence the air may be forced by the ian I I past the cooling unit or evaporator I9. through the conduit I6 and distributing openf' ings I1, into the space I3. If desired, the evaporator I0 may be provided with a thermostatic expansion valve I8, having a thermostatic bulb I9 in thermal contact with the evaporated refrigerant leaving the evaporator. The valve I6 may be of well known type which admits liquid refrigerant into the evaporator when the pressure therein is reduced below a predetermined value: but which throttles the refrigerant by the thermostatic bulb I9 when liquid refrigerant tends to spill over the evaporator into the suction line 20.

A heat dissipating unit for drawing heat from the cooling unit I0 and for dissipating it to the exterior of the space I3 may be provided. This mayvinclude a compressor 2i driven by a motor 22, which withdraws gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator I0, through the suction line 2U, compresses it, and forwards it through line 23 to the condenser 24, where the refrigerant is liqueeld and is forwarded through line 25 to the evaporator I0. A motor 26 is provided .for driving a fan 21 which circulates air past the condenser 24. This air may enter through louvers 28 and may be discharged through the louvers 29 or vice versa. The motor 22 may drive a fan 30, which circulates air over the compressor 2| and motcr 22, the air entering and leaving through the screened or louvered openings 3 I.

A power unit for the system may be provided. This may comprise an internal combustion engine 32, preferably of the Diesel type, having air intake openings 33 and a discharge muffler 34. This engine may drive a fan 35 and a generator 36. The generator 36 supplies electric energy or current for the motors I2, 22 and 26. Preferably the motors 22 and 26 are under the control of an automatic switch 31 which is opened and closed by the control member 38 which is responsive to a condition of the air within the space I3, or a combined condition of the air within the space I3 and the outside air, or of the outside air alone. The condition to which this control may be responsive may be thermostatic or humidistatic, or a. combination of the two.

The generator 36 supplies electric energy for the motors through the lines 39 and energy for the lighting system or the like through the lines 40.

Air conveying means conveying air from the space I3 pastthe generator 36 and into the internal combustion engine 32 may be provided. This may take the form of a conduit 4I and casing 43, which permits the fan 35 to withdraw into the `-blower 31 and out the' outlet 33. A

.radiator 53 .and fan Blas shown in Fig. 2

air from the space I3 and'circulate'it past -the generator 33 and thence'partly into the intakes 33 of the internal combustion engine and partly through the dischargeopening 42.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, theI cong' struction is the same as in Fig. l, with the excep-` tions hereinafter noted. The condenser 24 may have an= evaporating liquid, such' as water, in-

troduced over it. `Conveniently, this may take,

air from the space I3 past the "condenser, .24, where it may be mixed with air entering louvers 23 and may then circulate past the condenser 24 through the fan 21 past the motor 23 and out the. louvers 23.

Air conveying means 55 are also provided for conveying air from the space I3 past the compressor 2| arid/or the vmotor 22. This air may be circulated by the fan 30 after it is mixed with air entering' the louvers 3 I.

The internal combustion engine 32, inv Fig. 2, may be 'provided wlth'a cooling system including the' usual' water jacket "in the engine, from which water is circulated through the water coolingradia'tor 53 and thence back to the engine. Air is forced through the radiator 53 by mea'ns of the fan51,`driven by the engine 32. The air driven' through 'the radiator 53 mavqbe partly. from' the exterior of 'the` car, and partly from the conditioned space I3 which flows through the conduit' 4I, past the generator 33, fan 35, engine 32 'and through the opening 33 in the casing 42 where it is mixed with outside air,'and is circu` lated past the radiatorEB. Other portionsof the vsystem of Fig. 2, whether designated by reference characters ornot, may be substantially identical with corresponding elements'of Figi l. and co'- .operate with elements in Fig. 1 which are not re-g` l pesten-1n Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows a construction in which the. power unit, including engine 32 and generator 33 may be laterally withdrawable from underthe car f or repairs. The unit, with its casing 42 maybe placed underthe car adjacent the center sill 63 and may be withdrawn out of the side 3l ofthe 'A car. In this case the air conveying means 4Ia.

corresponding to conduit 4I of Figs. 1 and2. leads from the interior |301' the` car to a resilient flexible connector 62 having flared coupling member 33 with cooperates withl the cylindrical coupling. member 34 carried by asmall casing 3l around the generator 33. When the power unitis inserted under the car, the coupling members 33. k

and 34. form an air conveying couplingy for carrying air from theiinterior I3into the casing 33, from whence it flows through the "opening 33 partly into the intakes 33 of the engine and partly muilier 34a may be provided. If it is carried byA the center sill, a exible portion 33 may be pro--v vided similareto portion `32, which is also proi' vided with a flared coupling member 13. This The iixbi connectors: n isy be as shown in Fig.' 4. It may be made of airtight' cloth 32d secured to an internal spiral spring 32h which nts over the coupling member 33, and may be secured thereto, by any desired method.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein' disclosed, constitutes a' preferred form. it is to be understood that other forms 'might be Hadopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow. I

Whatis claimed is as follows:

1. An air conditioning system comprising: a cooling unit for a space to be conditioneda fan and motor means for drawing air from the ex- 13 veying means 34 may be provided for conveying said cooling unit r and for dissipating rto the ex-,f i y and air conveying meansfponveymg-- cooperateswith the cylindrical exhaust pipe 1I 70 in a manner heretofore described with regard to members 33 and 34. The engine may be water cooled. If desired, it may be provided with a terior of said space and forcing it over said unit; a heat dissipating unit for drawing heat from said coolingunit andfor dissipating to the exterior of said space; motor means for actuating sa'idheat dissipating unit; a power unit comprising an internal combustionengine anda vgenerat'or for supplying electric energy t'sa'id motor means; 'and air conveyin'gmans conveying aironly from said space. past said generator.A 1' i 2. An airconditioning system comprising; j a cooling unit for a space to be conditioned: afanV and motor means for drawing air from the ex-I terior of said space and forcing itjover said 'unity a' heat dissipating unit for drawing heat said cooling unit and' for' dissipating to timexterior of said space; motor means for 'actuating' said heat dissipating unit; a power unit com-l prising an internal combustion engine and a gen-fi erator for supplying electric energy to said xnotor means; `-an d 'air' conveying means conveying air: only froxnsaid 'space past lsaici generator into said intern'al combustion engine. j 3. An aix-conditioning system comprising: a. cooling unit for aspaceto be conditioned: afan and motor means for drawing air' from the exte`l rior' of said space and'forcingl it over said unit; a heat dissipating unit for drawing heat from terior of said space; motor-'meansV fonact'ating' said heat dissipating unita' power unit comprising an internal combustion en8ine. a

radiator for said'ensine 'and a generatorl'for supplying eietric' energy tov said motor means from said spacelpast said'generatr, 'and partly.

muc said engine and mixed, wimf outsideairpue.

said cooling radiator.

' 4. An -air conditioning i refrigerant evaporator for a space'ft'o be couille.'

Ationed; la fanand motor for drawing'air i'rln.l the exterior of said space and [forcing it over' said ei'laporator; a compressor 'and motor with: drawing gaseous refrigerant from 'said,evapo rator; a condenser receiving compressed re, frigerant from said compressor. condensing' it" and forwarding it to vsaid evaporator; a fan and motor forcing air over said condenser; a power' unit comprising an internal combustion engine and a generator for supplying electric energy to' said motorsrand air conveying meansfconveying f air onlyfrom said space past'said generator.

5. An air conditioning system comprising: a refrigerant evaporator for a space to be conditioned; a fan and motor for drawing air" from the exterior ofsaid space and forcing it over said evaporator; a' compressor and motor with-g drawing gaseous refrigerant from said evapora# tor; a condenser receiving compressed refriger. ant from said compressor, condensing it and forwarding it to said evaporator: effan and motor forcing air 'over 'said"condenser; a power unit 5 comprising an internal combustion engine and a generator for supplying electric energy to said motors; and air conveying means conveying air only from said space past said generator and into said internal combustion engine.

6. An air conditioning system comprising: a refrigerant evaporator for a space to be conditioned; a fan and motor for drawing air from the exterior of said space and forcing it over said yaporator; a compressor and motor withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from said evaporator; a condenser receiving compressed refrigerant from said compressor, condensing it and forwarding it to said evaporator; a fan and motor forcing air over said condenser; a power unit comprising an internal combustion engine: a water cooling radiator for said engine and a generator for supplying electric energy to said motors; and an air conveying means conveying air only from said space past said generator and partly into said engine and mixed with outside air past said cooling radiator.

7. An air conditioning system comprising: a cooling' 'unit for a space to be conditioned; means for drawing air from the exterior of said space and forcing it over said unit; a heat dis-- slpating unit for drawing heat from said cooling unit and for dissipating to the exterior of said space; motor means for actuating said heat dissipating unit; a power unit for supplying electric energy to said motor means comprising a casing adjacent said space; an internal combus- 6 tion engine and a generator in said casing; and air conveying means conveying air only from said space to said casing past said generator and -into said combustion engine.

8. An air conditioning system comprising: a cooling unit for a space to be conditioned; means for drawing air from the exterior of said space and forcing it over said unit; a heat dissipating unit for drawing heat from said cooling unit and for dissipating to the exterior of said space; motor means for actuating said heat dissipating unit; a power unit for supplying electric energy to said motor means comprising a casing adjacent said space; an internal combustion engine and a generator in said casing; and air conveying means conveying air only from said space to said casing past said generator.

CHARLES F. HENNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,070,379 Stramaglia Feb. 9, 1937 2,087,790 Anderson July 20, 1937 2,100,834 Chapman Nov. 30, 1937 2,106,515 Wanamaker Jan. 25, 1938 2,112,221 Sargent Mar. 22, 1938 2,311,622 Alexander Feb. 23, 1943 2,320,596 Henney June 1, 1943 

